Some Great Practice Tips from Jaco!

[@rufusbass]

40 years ago, Jaco Pastorius filmed a really cool instructional video. Jaco was in great form I thought overall on this video too - and I actually wished the ‘interview’ part had gone deeper on his days in Weather Report and his solo work. I wanted to look at the great stuff Jaco mentioned, as it's so useful and relevant to all players..

[@bassbuffricky]

I must have seen that Jaco video over a dozen times by now and the exercises he presents there really helped me a lot. They opened up the fingerboard for me. I still do them all the time.

[@rufusbass]

yeah, as a teen ..it was mind-blowing. Same here!

[@anthonydonofrio3266]

As always, you have the gift of teaching. I’ve learned so much just from your videos. I appreciate what you do and love the spirit you have for music and bass! Blessings!!

[@wanmorgan]

That Jaco video is pure gold. I have it with the book. Thanks for the video 😎

[@rufusbass]

It really is! I used to have the book too. Lost in a move many years ago :{

[@garrybrown8029]

Great lesson very well explained. 🙏❤️😊

[@rufusbass]

Thank you! 😃

[@danmuzquiz296]

Mighty cool stuff, Rufus. I really enjoyed this (and way to go with the Rothko and Guernica on the walls).

[@ericstrauch3215]

Excellent advise from a master bass player! Thanks Rufus! I do a different fingerboard exercise to learn the notes......I go each fret from E to G string. Fret 1 F,Bb,Eb,Ab, sharps going up, flats going down.

[@KozmykJ]

I bought that VHS and the book with it. I have to admit that it went Waay over my head ... Whoosh! 🌬🧠

[@jymyben]

nice video, thank you…

[@estoicohz]

Thank you for this video! Great insights!

[@rufusbass]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@johnsavold]

Gimme a gig, ya know.

[@rufusbass]

I know...That kills me. Funny, but poignant and sad too...I think Jaco was hurting here..But he was still an absolute towering talent on the bass..When I lived in NYC , I taught at the Bass Collective ( around 2002-2004) I may be wrong but I thiiink this vidoe might have even been filmed at the original Collective location.

[@paultraynorbsc627]

Thanks for sharing Rufus 🎶🎵🎸

[@massimodiferrantebassista2459]

Nice video thanks 😊

[@wkenney]

great tone!

[@paultraynorbsc627]

Thanks

[@rufusbass]

Welcome Paul- glad you are enjpying 'em.Thanks for supporting the channel.

[@paultraynorbsc627]

@@rufusbass your welcome

[@nabsdmusik]

Great Jaco practice, thank you.

[@rufusbass]

Glad it was helpful!

[@maximusindicusoblivious180]

This is great advice for guitarist as well. I do that chromatic thing with my "Guitar Fitness," book in different variations, good for warm ups as you said but scales are better as you mentioned. Thanks for the great tips. I also play the bass for my own enjoyment and recording. I've learned early to play and sing different Instruments and genres because no one is coming to your rescue.

[@rufusbass]

That's a great idea!

[@terryadams237]

Great video Rufus. Very well done. Thank you

[@Francescofrendo]

This. All this. Legend.

[@fritsdekeijzer7664]

Hello Rufus, thank you for your enthusiastic way of telling and explaining. It does me good and a little bit more music comes out of my bass guitar! Kind regards from Holland!

[@rufusbass]

Cool, thanks for watching!

[@frodo-1712]

cool and usefull as always, thanks a lot Rufus. Suggestion for further lesson ... mixing diminished with blues material ...?

[@rufusbass]

Great suggestion!

[@NiteOwlBread]

I've never understood people saying how he seems unwell in this. He behaves quite on point if you ask me. Charming, relaxed, brilliant, insightful, quick with the jokes... i just don't get it 😅 Is it the sweater/beret combo?

[@rufusbass]

Beret. Nailed it

[@DanPlimmer]

These days that book comes with a free download of the video. I have it on my phone when killing time between soundcheck and gig or whenever I’m waiting around in public, I never don’t get something out of watching that. Do you have any advice for dealing with the gatekeepers at a jazz jam night? I find it very hard to get a chance to play at a jazz jam because it’s just so cliquey

[@rufusbass]

A thats a tough question! The gatekeepers can be a drag… see if you can talk to one of the regulars about letting you play- maybe before the night starts… best of luck w that- dont let it discourage you! Keep at it and it will happen💥💥💥💥

[@WALTERTLHB]

Good day Rufus. I actually went and purchased this video like 2 years ago. I'm a guitar player left-handed . Jaco inspired me to go and purchase another four-string Bass. I had a precision and a peavy T40 bass.. So I have a Marcus Miller sire P10 bass. I believe you were associated with SBL . I can't really remember but that's why I think you had some type of course you were teaching at the time. BUT YOU ARE DEFINITELY RIGHT THERE SEVERAL KEY BULLET POINTS JACO MAKES IN THIS VIDEO. Thank you very much and I have subscribed to you I look forward to hearing more from you in the future thank you . SINCERELY WALTER THE LEFT-HANDED BLOKE 😎

[@RHINOPLASM]

Have you posted a video on the double octave major and minor triads you showed me? You had an interesting fingering technique.

[@rufusbass]

Hey....Not sure, but my D min Prelude has them - it's in tab and notation- might be worth picking up if you don't have it- the approach in the D min, D maj, Min/D triads in the A section covers that!

[@hswalkerstudio]

I love your videos. I've been subscribed for a while now. Articulate, concise, gets to heart of the matter without a lot of "blah, blah, blah." Side note: all the heavy cats play Moollon. I know this isn't a gear channel but I'm curious about Moollon. What sets them apart?

[@rufusbass]

Glad you like the content..Stroy behind my Moollon bass use- I have known Tim LeFebvre for years and saw him using his P Classic, and ended up connecting w the guys at Moollon via him. Great sounding basses (Young Joon winds his own pickups)

[@johnnyreed]

The thousands of times I thought to myself “man Jaco would’ve sounded great on this tune or with this band!”

[@kagwangkoh1327]

Nice

[@rufusbass]

Thanks

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have a wonderful weekend Rufus also what is your favorite year from the 2010s in general ❤😊

[@rufusbass]

Thanks for that! Hmmm good question and a tough one...One of my fave years was the 2nd tour of Japan I did with a French orchestra in 2017....and we played 20 cities in perhaps 26 days...SO many great record stores in Japan- Disk Union in Osaka and Tokyo... and I remember a great tiny basement store in Sapporo-run by a Japanese bassist!!! Super cool guy- gave me a discount on Grant Green's "Matador" on the first Blue Note Japan pressing in mint condition !! It's all about the vinyl scores when you're on tour :)

[@TheBombshelterBassSpace-gj9tw]

Love your stuff brother! Can I ask how you are recording your voice and bass for these? It sounds great and I can even hear what you're doing on this silly "phone"!

[@rufusbass]

Bass- di out from Trickfish Bullhead into my Focusrite USB interface. Mic is condenser, -I avoid all the terrible preset DAW eq stuff in Logic or GarageBand esp the default voice settings and eq it myself -usually adding a touch of low end if needed as my music space is quite live here

[@TheBombshelterBassSpace-gj9tw]

@@rufusbass appreciate you getting back here! What are you using for video and are you syncing up audio afterwards? I try using a webcam and the lag is tough.

[@ultra_toxic3131]

The real book is a great resource, but as a musician in college for Jazz studies, I suggest learning the melodies by ear rather than reading from the book. You can use it to help you, but I promise it’s so much more worth it to learn by ear

[@rufusbass]

Personally, I'd do both. The Real Book is something anybody should own, as a resouirce. I'm not saying it's the only way at ALL. You should be able to learn by ear as a matter of course - and not limited to jazz standard melodies/progressions either- I'd recommend transcribing solos too by ear. Not using any apps to slow stuff down OR watching someone else's transcription /performance on social media either, and be able to sight read anything. Probably why I've played everything from extreme prog w Virgil Donati, to jazz & fusion w guys like Mitch Forman, Scott Henderson, Kirk Covington etc etc to doing shows on Broadway NYC and teaching at the Bass Collective there within a year of moving to New York. As an example, with Virgil, we would run thru rehearsals and sight read ridiculously complex charts and being able to read and memorize stuff was invaluable with limited time.... Being literate and developing a good ear. I suggest do it ALL. Too many people use the "I'm just an ear player or a 'feel' guy ad know nothing. So that's MY take on it. Good luck w the jazz studies.

[@jerryayon4120]

Jaco was the Greatest…

[@kellyvibert7861]

Scott Devine, are you watching??? 😂

[@TheFriendlyPsychopath]

Bass is so easy, even women and children are doing it now.